Kautra Grant, a junior at Sartell High School, has made modeling and being creative into a potential career over the last year and a half.  

She has a brother named Glenn, has three dogs, a guinea pig named Cuddles, and she lives in Clearwater. She also adds that she’s done the polar plunge four times. She is interested in science and design.  Actually, Kautra creates original designs. She’s been to two fashion shows and walked at four of them. She likes to be outdoors, loves winter sports, and track. She’s won model of the year at the Industry Network competition in Los Angeles. 

Interestingly enough, modeling is a fairly new thing for Kautra. She adds that she has only been modeling for about a year and a half. Being introduced into modeling by a friend of the family, Kautra was able to get picked up by a Minnesotan Model Agency- Privileged Model Management. After being picked by the agency, Kautra was able to go on her first live shows: The Jason Show and Twin Cities Live.

Kautra speaks on her experience: “Twin Cities Live was my first commercial-type job and my first runway with my own designs.  It was really awesome because my family and friends were there to support me like always.”

Pushing past boundaries, Kautra is never fitting the stereotypes that are placed on women in modeling. She adds, “My parents like to push me to try new things and support me in any new endeavors I try out.” 

Kautra explains what it is she loves the most about modeling: “I enjoy doing the runway and the photoshoots, and what goes on behind the scenes. I also love getting my hair and makeup done too.”

Besides modeling Kautra pushes her boundaries by designing and creating clothes that express her creativity.  “I’d say that I’m a designer first and model second. I’ve been sewing since I was five years old and don’t want becoming a model to overshadow that. I wanted to give modeling a try to gain even more knowledge about the fashion industry, but I have more fun with creating clothes and expressing my creativity in the clothes I make. I have pride in making things that I myself have put creative effort into making”

Not only is Kautra interested in design, but she also would like to pursue a career in the sciences. “I’m really more interested in the sciences. I’d really like to be a lab technician. If I were to really pursue a profession in the fashion industry, it would obviously be in the design parts of the industry. I really see the modeling as more of a lesser part of the fashion industry that I’m interested in.”

Regarding her inspirations with designing clothes, she had this to say, “I really just base my designs on what people around me are wearing. I’m always interested in how people present their personalities with what they wear. I also love using Pinterest when I’m looking for ideas.”